Need Some Coral Selection Help

[Forsaken77]

Let me start off with that I don't keep coral, except a Xenia for nutrient removal. But my Xenia went through a powerhead a ways back and it has slowly regrown from a literal stub to roughly twice the size I bought. So it's not really doing it's job yet, lol.

I had read that coral use fish waste as food. I know they have to be fed also on top of the nitrate/phosphate balance.

So I am contemplating keeping some easy, maybe NPS, corals? It's a FOWLR display. But I was wondering if there's anything that is hardy, does well in nutrient rich water (like Xenia) doesn't need intense light, and uptakes nutrients better than average? That is why I was pondering NPS corals, but don't know jack about coral selection for this purpose. Or if there even is a coral that fits this for me.

I know macro algae would be a better option for this, but was just interested to see if there's anything I can permanently and easily keep that will constantly filter the water in a FO tank? Plus I don't want to bother with chaeto all over the place.

Any ideas?

 

[Brew12]

Let me start off with that I don't keep coral, except a Xenia for nutrient removal. But my Xenia went through a powerhead a ways back and it has slowly regrown from a literal stub to roughly twice the size I bought. So it's not really doing it's job yet, lol.

I had read that coral use fish waste as food. I know they have to be fed also on top of the nitrate/phosphate balance.

So I am contemplating keeping some easy, maybe NPS, corals? It's a FOWLR display. But I was wondering if there's anything that is hardy, does well in nutrient rich water (like Xenia) doesn't need intense light, and uptakes nutrients better than average? That is why I was pondering NPS corals, but don't know jack about coral selection for this purpose. Or if there even is a coral that fits this for me.

I know macro algae would be a better option for this, but was just interested to see if there's anything I can permanently and easily keep that will constantly filter the water in a FO tank? Plus I don't want to bother with chaeto all over the place.

Any ideas?

I would stay away from the NPS corals since those do need to be fed. Most other corals need no additional feeding.

For high nutrients you will want to stay in the softie categories like with GSP, Pipe Organ corals, Kenya Tree's, Devil's Fingers, Cabbage Coral, Zoa's, Trumpet Coral and I'm sure there are a few others.

 

[Forsaken77]

I would stay away from the NPS corals since those do need to be fed. Most other corals need no additional feeding.

For high nutrients you will want to stay in the softie categories like with GSP, Pipe Organ corals, Kenya Tree's, Devil's Fingers, Cabbage Coral, Zoa's, Trumpet Coral and I'm sure there are a few others.

Are soft corals very photosynthetic? Or can they deal with just regular lighting (not intense blues, ect..)?

I have 3 AI Primes over a 180 and each is about 15 inches above the water to give a 30"-ish spread. It works for fish, and the Xenia is up high. But the PAR is probably pretty low.

 

[Brew12]

Are soft corals very photosynthetic? Or can they deal with just regular lighting (not intense blues, ect..)?

I have 3 AI Primes over a 180 and each is about 15 inches above the water to give a 30"-ish spread. It works for fish, and the Xenia is up high. But the PAR is probably pretty low.

Softies do much better in lower lighting than SPS. They may not thrive, but I would think that they would do fine.